Pretoria, July 24 (Prensa Latina) The waters of South Africa are witnessing, as they do every year, the massive arrival of whales from Antarctica.
According to marine biologist Maryke Musson, recent censuses show a significant increase in the number of whales migrating from the coldest waters in the south of the planet, with an estimated 30,000 specimens.
That number, he said, represents a stark contrast to counts from the 1970s, when just 5,600 humpback whales were observed along the South African coast (the most common species in this area are the southern right whale and the humpback whale).
This is a direct result of the international cessation of whaling agreed in 1986, which has allowed the species to rebuild its populations, he added.
But apart from the majestic spectacle that the arrival of these whales presents to tourists from all over the world who come to watch them, the presence of whales represents a fundamental element in the harmonious balance of marine ecosystems.
Because of their eating habits, one of their most important roles is to act as carbon sinks, as their diet is based on large amounts of zooplankton, which in turn feed on phytoplankton (through photosynthesis, it fixes atmospheric CO2).
In addition, Musson says, their nutrient-rich excretions serve as fertilizer for algae, phytoplankton, and zooplankton, completing an ecological cycle that sustains marine life.
Essentially, the biologist points out, if we removed whales from the general food chain, the entire ecosystem could collapse.
NMR/MV